Fan Housing Module

ABSTRACT

A fan housing module includes a base unit and a cover unit engageable with the base unit. The base unit includes a plurality of bases integrally formed with each other to form a structure in the same array arrangement. Alternatively, the cover unit includes a plurality of covers integrally formed with each other to form a structure in the same array arrangement. Thus, after the base unit is engaged with the cover unit, each base and one of the covers together form a fan housing for assembly of a motor fan such that the motor fans form a fan array.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fan housing module and, moreparticularly, to a fan housing module allowing assembly of a pluralityof motor fans to form an array arrangement.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a cooling module disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No.M276263. This conventional cooling module 9 includes a base 91 having aplurality of compartments 911 each receiving a cooling fan 92. Eachcooling fan 92 includes an air inlet 921 and an air outlet 922. Aircurrent is guided into each cooling fan 92 via the air inlet 921 andthen exits the air outlet 922 to a pre-determined location. When thecooling fans 92 are mounted to an electronic product such as a computermain body, the cooling fans 92 dissipate heat from various electronicelements in the electronic product to assure smooth operation of theelectronic product.

The cooling fans 92 can be collectively installed in the conventionalcooling module 9 by using the base 91, and the air outlets 922 of thecooling module 9 are in different locations. By such an arrangement,heat dissipation can be carried out for different electronic elementslocated on different locations in the electronic product.

However, problems are encountered during assembly of the cooling module9. Firstly, the assembly is inconvenient. Specifically, the cooling fans92 can not be mounted in the compartments 911 of the base 91 in sequenceuntil the cooling fans 92 are assembled (such as mounting stators andfan wheels in housings), leading to inconvenience due to troublesomeassembling steps. Secondly, the manufacturing costs are high. The base91 is required in the cooling module 9 for receiving the cooling fans 92in an array arrangement. Furthermore, each cooling fan 92 must beproduced and assembled separately (the components such as the housingsmust be formed separately). Thus, it is difficult to cut down themanufacturing costs of the cooling module 9, failing to meet economicends. Thirdly, miniature designs can not be carried out due to componentcomplexity of the cooling module 9. In particular, the base 91 can notbe omitted. Furthermore, the size of the base 91 must be sufficientlylarge for receiving and engaging the cooling fans 92. As a result, it isdifficult to reduce the volume of the cooling module 9 forminiaturization purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a fan housing modulethat is easier to assemble to avoid the disadvantages of theconventional fan housing module.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fan housingmodule whose manufacturing costs can be effectively cut.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a fan housingmodule allowing miniature designs.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fan housingmodule includes a base unit and a cover unit. The base unit includes aplurality of separate bases each having a shaft engaging portion and afirst engaging portion. The cover unit includes a plurality of coversintegrally formed with each other to form a structure in the same arrayarrangement. Each of the plurality of covers includes a second engagingportion. The first engaging portions of the base unit are engaged withthe second engaging portions of the cover unit with each of theplurality of bases and one of the plurality of covers together forming afan housing having an air inlet and an air outlet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a fan housingmodule includes a base unit and a cover unit. The base unit includes aplurality of bases integrally formed with each other to form a structurein the same array arrangement. Each of the plurality of bases includes ashaft engaging portion and a first engaging portion. The cover unitincludes a plurality of covers each having a second engaging portion.The first engaging portions of the base unit are engaged with the secondengaging portions of the cover unit with each of the plurality of basesand one of the plurality of covers together forming a fan housing havingan air inlet and an air outlet.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a conventional fan housingmodule.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of a fan housing module of afirst embodiment according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the fan housing module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded, perspective view of a fan housing module of asecond embodiment according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the fan housing module of FIG. 4.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “side”, “portion”, and similar terms are used herein,it should be understood that these terms have reference only to thestructure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewingthe drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A fan housing module of a first embodiment according to the preferredteachings of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fanhousing module includes a base unit 1 and a cover unit 2. A plurality ofmotor fans 8 can be mounted to the base unit 1. The cover unit 2 can bemounted to the base unit 1. Thus, the motor fans 8 and the fan housingmodule can together form an array arrangement.

The base unit 1 includes a plurality of bases 11. In this embodiment,the bases 11 are separate from each other and each includes a sidehaving a shaft engaging portion 111 and a first engaging portion 112.The shaft engaging portion 111 can be in the form of a shaft tube, shaftseat, or other structure for engaging with a shaft of a motor fan 8. Thefirst engaging portion 112 can be any structure for detachableengagement with the cover unit 2. In this embodiment, the first engagingportion 112 includes a plurality of engaging blocks surrounding theshaft engaging portion 111 and located in corners of the base 11.

The cover unit 2 includes a plurality of covers 21 with a desiredgeometric shape. The covers 21 are integrally formed with each other. Asan example, the covers 21 are integrally formed as the same arrayarrangement. In this embodiment, each cover 21 is substantially squarein cross section and has an edge integrally formed with an adjoiningedge of an adjacent cover 21 such that the covers 21 together form astructure in the same array. Furthermore, each cover 21 includes a sidehaving a second engaging portion 211 detachably engaged with the firstengaging portion 112 of one of the bases 11. Further, the secondengaging portions 211 are grooves located in corners of each cover 21.The quantity, shapes, and locations of the grooves correspond to thoseof the first engaging portions 112 in the form of engaging blocks forengagement purposes.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, after the first engaging portions 112of the base unit 1 are engaged with the second engaging portions 211 ofthe cover unit 2, each base 11 and one of the covers 21 together form afan housing A having an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23. The air inlet22 and the air outlet 23 can be in predetermined locations of the base11 or the cover 21. In this embodiment, the air inlet 22 and the airoutlet 23 are formed in predetermined locations of the cover 21. The airinlet 22 is a through-hole extending through the cover 21, and the airoutlet 23 is in the form of a notch in a side of the cover 21.Furthermore, a sidewall 24 is formed between the base 11 and the cover21 of each fan housing A for effectively separating the fan housings A.The sidewall 24 can be formed along a perimeter of the base 11 or thecover 21. In this embodiment, the sidewall 24 is formed along theperimeter of the cover 21.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each fan housing A is provided forassembly of a motor fan 8. Each motor fan 8 includes a coil unit 81 anda fan wheel 82. The coil unit 81 is mounted to a side of the base 11,and the fan wheel 82 is rotatably engaged with the shaft engagingportion 111 of the base 11. When the fan housing module according to thepreferred teachings of the present invention is mounted in an electronicproduct, the coil unit 81 of each fan housing A can drive the fan wheel82 of the fan housing A to rotate, driving in air currents into the fanhousing A via the air inlet 22. Then, the air currents exit the airoutlet 23 and guided to a plurality of electronic elements in differentlocations of the electronic product, assuring smooth operation of theelectronic product.

The primary feature of the fan housing module according to the preferredteachings of the present invention is that the covers 21 of the coverunit 2 are integrally formed as the same array arrangement, a pluralityof fan housings A in the same array is formed after the bases 11 of thebase unit 1 respectively engage with the covers 21. Thus, the fanhousings A allow assembly of a plurality of motor fans 8 for dissipatingheat from heating generating sources in different locations.

More specifically, in assembly of the fan housing module according tothe preferred teachings of the present invention, after the motor fans 8are mounted in the bases 11 of the base unit 1 in sequence, theassembling procedure can be accomplished by simply engaging each base 11with the cover unit 2 that is integrally formed as an array arrangement.The assembling procedure is simple and easy due to the design of the fanhousing module according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention. Furthermore, only the base unit 1 and the cover unit 2 arerequired for assembling the motor fans 8 in the fan housings A to form afan array. No additional members are required for the assembly. Thus,the fan housing module according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention has a fewer number of elements and low manufacturingcosts while allowing miniaturization of the products.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a fan housing module of a second embodiment accordingto the preferred teachings of the present invention including a baseunit 3 and a cover unit 4.

The base unit 3 includes a plurality of bases 31 that are integrallyformed. As an example, each base 31 has an edge integrally formed withan adjoining edge of an adjacent base 31 such that the bases 31 togetherform a structure in the same array. Furthermore, each base 31 includes aside having a shaft engaging portion 311 and a first engaging portion312. The shaft engaging portion 311 and the first engaging portion 312are substantially the same as the shaft engaging portion 111 and thefirst engaging portion 112 of the first embodiment and, therefore, notdescribed in detail to avoid redundancy.

The cover unit 4 includes a plurality of covers 41 that are separatefrom or integrally formed with each other. In this embodiment, thecovers 41 are integrally formed with each other to form a structure inthe same array. This further simplifies the assembly of the base unit 3and the cover unit 4. Furthermore, each cover 41 includes a side havinga second engaging portion 411 that is substantially the same as thesecond engaging portion 211 of the first embodiment and, therefore, notdescribed in detail to avoid redundancy.

With reference to FIG. 5, after engagement of the first engagingportions 312 of the base unit 3 with the second engaging portions 411 ofthe cover unit 4, each base 31 and one of the covers 41 form a fanhousing A having an air inlet 42, an air outlet 43, and a sidewall 44that are substantially the same as the air inlet 22, the air outlet 23,and the sidewall 24 of the first embodiment and, therefore, notdescribed in detail to avoid redundancy.

The difference between the first and second embodiments is that thecovers 21 of the cover unit 2 in the first embodiment are integrallyformed as the same array arrangement whereas the bases 31 of the baseunit 3 in the second embodiment are integrally formed as the same arrayarrangement. Thus, in assembly, only engagement of the cover unit 4 andthe base unit 3 is required after the motor fans 8 are mounted in thebases 31 of the base unit 3 in sequence, obtaining the same advantagesof the first embodiment.

The fan housing module according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention can be assembled easily by engaging the base unit 1 or3 with the cover unit 2 or 4 such that the motor fans 8 engaged in thefan housings A are in the same array arrangement, providing enhancedassembling convenience.

Furthermore, the covers 21 of the cover unit 2 or the bases 31 of thebase units 3 are integrally formed as a structure in the same arrayarrangement such that the fan housing module according to the preferredteachings of the present invention allows the motor fans 8 to beassembled as a fan array without using any other member, reducing themanufacturing costs.

Furthermore, the overall structure of the fan housing module accordingto the preferred teachings of the present invention has fewer elementsand is simple, effectively reducing the volume of the fan housing moduleand allowing miniaturization of the products.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan housing module comprising: a base unitincluding a plurality of separate bases each having a shaft engagingportion and a first engaging portion; and a cover unit including aplurality of covers integrally formed with each other to form astructure in a same array arrangement, with each of the plurality ofcovers including a second engaging portion, wherein the first engagingportions of the base unit are engaged with the second engaging portionsof the cover unit with each of the plurality of bases and one of theplurality of covers together forming a fan housing having an air inletand an air outlet.
 2. The fan housing module as claimed in claim 1, withthe first engaging portion of each of the plurality of bases including aplurality of engaging blocks, with the second engaging portion of eachof the plurality of covers including a plurality of grooves engaged withthe plurality of engaging blocks.
 3. The fan housing module as claimedin claim 2, with the plurality of engaging blocks formed in corners ofeach of the plurality of bases, with the plurality of grooves formed incorners of each of the plurality of covers.
 4. The fan housing module asclaimed in claim 1, with each of the fan housing including a sidewallbetween the base and the cover that together form the fan housing. 5.The fan housing module as claimed in claim 4, with the sidewall formedalong a perimeter of the cover.
 6. A fan housing module comprising: abase unit including a plurality of bases integrally formed with eachother to form a structure in a same array arrangement, with each of theplurality of bases including a shaft engaging portion and a firstengaging portion; and a cover unit including a plurality of covers eachhaving a second engaging portion, wherein the first engaging portions ofthe base unit are engaged with the second engaging portions of the coverunit with each of the plurality of bases and one of the plurality ofcovers together forming a fan housing having an air inlet and an airoutlet.
 7. The fan housing module as claimed in claim 6, with theplurality of covers integrally formed with each other to form astructure in a same array arrangement.
 8. The fan housing module asclaimed in claim 6, with the plurality of covers separate from eachother.
 9. The fan housing module as claimed in claim 6, with the firstengaging portion of each of the plurality of bases including a pluralityof engaging blocks, with the second engaging portion of each of theplurality of covers including a plurality of grooves engaged with theplurality of engaging blocks.
 10. The fan housing module as claimed inclaim 9, with the plurality of engaging blocks formed in corners of eachof the plurality of bases, with the plurality of grooves formed incorners of each of the plurality of covers.
 11. The fan housing moduleas claimed in claim 6, with each of the fan housing including a sidewallbetween the base and the cover that together form the fan housing. 12.The fan housing module as claimed in claim 11, with the sidewall formedalong a perimeter of the cover.